Watford BC

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council- owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. Entries should focus on demonstrating how other councils could learn from, replicate or adapt the innovation for their own area and include the voice of staff within the submission. This award is intended to highlight those councils daring to do things differently in the quest to deliver modern, efficient and responsive public services. This could include maximising the opportunities of new technology or redesigning services in partnership with users or adopting an asset based approach. However, introducing new ways of working into teams can be challenging and requires careful management. This award seeks to recognise teams within councils that have successfully adopted new ways of working that have delivered significant benefits to service users and the workforce alike. It is open to teams within councils and partner organisations who have led innovation in smart working either across the whole organisation or in a specific service area. Judges will be looking for evidence of increased efficiency, improved outcomes and a happy workforce. Entries should include details of: Rationale for introducing the new ways of working Objectives at the outset and whether they have been met or exceeded Any obstacles to introduction and how they were overcome Benefits of the new approach to staff, service users and the council How the service was redesigned and what the outcomes were